Contemporary Christian recording artist John Angotti will bring his high-energy message of hope and healing to La Jolla when he performs at All Hallows Catholic Church, 7 p.m. March 26.

The charismatic, constantly-touring pianist and songwriter has performed at Carnegie Hall and for Pope Benedict XVI.

“If you’re involved in Christian music, he’s the Billy Joel, he’s the Elton John — the man at the piano who can change your life,” said Cindy Bosh, All Hallows’ director of stewardship.

Angotti will make the trek to San Diego following his performance at the Los Angeles Religious Education Conference at the Anaheim Convention Center, where Bosh first saw him perform. She says the concert was a transformative experience for her.

“You walk out and are a different person,” she said. “He just reaches that deep down inside.”

Raised in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, Angotti belted out his first tune at age 4 when he sang the hymn, “The Church’s One Foundation.”

He went on to study piano and served as lead singer of a Navy rock band that covered everything from Journey to The Temptations.

The music missionary said he strives to help people develop an understanding of God through everyday life events.

“Most people have no idea; they can’t connect the story of their everyday life to the story (of God),” he said. “Everything is sacramental, because it all comes from God.”

All Hallows’ musical director Jennifer Michael said Angotti has a knack for inspiring teenagers while appealing to older audience members.

“He doesn’t alienate their grandparents or their parents,” Michael said. “They can all go to the same place and be very excited by him.

Michael said Angotti also works to highlight the role of men in the church.

“That’s kind of big for him because a lot of men are afraid to show their faith,” she said.

In his music, Angotti likens freewill to a paintbrush.

“We’re all handed a paintbrush,” he said. “What are you going to do with it? What kind of painting are we making of our life?”

The concert will be one of the first places fans can purchase Angotti’s new CD, which he characterized as a mix of liturgical, contemporary Christian and mainstream crossover tunes.

Though he sometimes plays acoustic shows while traveling, Angotti will be backed by local musicians for the All Hallows show, including a drummer, bassist and electric guitar player.

“We’re definitely going to throw down the pedal, turn up the volume,” he said.